Description:

• Egg masses (120-150 eggs per mass) are covered with scales.
• The larvae have an inverted "Y"-shaped mark on their heads.
• The male adult moth has brown forewings with triangular white spots, while the female's forewings are greyish brown.

Damage Symptoms:

• Young larvae scrape the surface of leaves.
• Older larvae feed on the central whorl, often causing extensive defoliation.
• Larvae also feed on the whorl, tassel, and cob.

Preventive Measures:

• Plant crops such as cowpea, red gram, sunflower, and fodder sorghum as border crops (dry land) in three rows.
• Apply neem cake at 250 kg/ha during the last ploughing.
• Set up FAW pheromone traps at 12 traps/ha.

Control Measures:

• Spray azadirachtin 1500 ppm at 2.5 liters/ha or chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC at 200 ml/ha.